When Will I Notice A Difference With Floating?

When will I notice a difference from float therapy?

Right away, although 3 is the sweet spot for most people to really see a difference.

Like anything new, the first float is filled with excitement and anticipation.

You wonder what the experience is going to be like. Especially because it’s so hard to describe an experience that’s like no other.

There’s also the anticipation. How will you feel after?

Research on floating and from our own experience here at Flow Spa, you’ll feel very relaxed after just your first float, and most people really start to notice they can relax deeper And fully experience the benefits of floating after 3 floats.

The research-backed benefits for reducing anxiety, decreasing stress hormones and relieving back pain comes from just one 60-minute float session. And they improve even further with subsequent treatments.

This 60-minute length of time is important to point out because people often wonder how long they should do for their first float and we like to encourage people to relax into and get used to floating for an hour with their first visit.

30 minutes is possible and also very relaxing, but because of the newness of the float experience, it takes time to get settled in and situated.

Letting the music gradually fade out, even for longer than our suggested 10 minutes at the start can help in the first float, but many people are ready to completely let go and escape.

And because 3 floats is an ideal starting point to see if floating is a therapy that works best for your needs for stress management, relaxation, and recovery, we do offer a 3-float package which is $195 - new customers can get it for $165.

You can find that package available in our online store, or talk to the front desk at the spa

Do I Need To Be Able To Meditate To Float?

Many people feel hesitant around the float tank because of the idea of sensory deprivation and what you’re supposed to do for an hour with your mind.

It can be daunting to think about going into an hour of solitude to be alone with your thoughts, but many of our clients have no experience with meditation and you don’t have to either.

Let’s talk about some of the experiences of the float tank and why you don’t have to be a good meditator to reap the benefits.

An hour of peace and quiet with no distractions from your thoughts is one of the most nourishing and powerful things we can do for ourselves in today’s day and age.

The float tank is so physically relaxing because you’re supported weightlessly by the Epsom salt solution, that it helps your mind to calm down too.

This is one of the reasons that the float tank works wonders for people in pain as well as for relieving anxiety. Sometimes when your mind can’t shut off and you’re stuck worrying, it can feel like it’s impossible to calm your mind and focus on meditation. By letting yourself float peacefully with calming music or having it fade out to silence you’re able to let your body naturally guide your mind to a calmer state.

Research on float therapy has looked at what our brains do when we’re floating and has found that our brainwaves reach the slow theta state. For the most part, Theta brainwaves usually only show up under two conditions: during REM sleep and in highly experienced meditators. But because of the unique environment of the float tank is so calming and free from external stimuli, our brains are naturally able to reach this deeply rejuvenating and calm state.

Experience float therapy for yourself to see these research-backed benefits. Whether you’re booking in Peterborough at Flow Spa or your closes float centre wherever you are in the world, I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful experience.

Does The Float Tank Need To Be Sensory Deprivation?

I am watching a Livestream as my friend Josh crosses the threshold into a pitch-black shipping container which he will be locked into for 24 hours. But not only will he be locked away in complete darkness, he’s also going to run on a treadmill nonstop in a race against three other guys for a whole day. This sensory deprivation challenge was on a whole other level that no one else has ever attempted before. To say it isn’t for the faint of heart is putting it lightly.

Fortunately, float therapy doesn't have to be this way, even though it's often still referred to as a sensory deprivation tank.

While it's true that you can go with the lights and music off to completely tune out the world around you, this is not a requirement of the experience to be therapeutic. A lot of our customers who are looking for pain relief may float with the lights on or have the music play the whole session.

It’s about reaching a point of stillness in your body and your mind, and for someone who has a lot of internal distractions like a racing mind, relaxing music can be just enough to help bring about a calmer state.

We also have customers with tinnitus who also prefer to keep the music on or plug in their own device to play some audio or a podcast because it is much more relaxing for them without the ringing in their ears.

We most commonly use a playlist of relaxing sleep soundtracks to help settle you into your float. If you want to download or listen to it right now, you can do so here. Listen for yourself and even choose which track you like the most if you want to request it during your float.

Is Floating Safe With High Blood Pressure?

Is floating safe if you’ve got high blood pressure?

The short answer is - yes!

It’s helpful to know that the temperature in the float tanks is skin temperature neutral so you don’t overheat or get cold. This also means that it’s safe for anyone with high blood pressure because it’s not going to raise blood pressure the way a hot tub does, which is why you have to avoid hot tubs.

In fact, float tanks help to reduce blood pressure. Research on the benefits of float therapy has shown significant reductions in indicators of stress, including high blood pressure after just one one-hour float session. That’s why it’s safe for high blood pressure but always check with your doctor first if you have any concerns.

So if it’s time for you to reduce some stress, it’s a great time to float!

What's The Temperature In The Float Tank?

We often get asked about the temperature in the float tank.

Will you get cold? Is it going to be too hot?

So let’s talk a bit about what it feels like when you are floating.

We usually describe that it feels like you're floating in space.

The temperature in the float tank is perfect so that you stay comfortable and don't overheat.

We call this skin receptor neutral because the temperature is set to be at a point where once you get settled in and relaxed you don't even notice you're in water anymore. The air and water around you are in harmony with your body temperature. Not your core temperature, but your skin temperature, which is right around 96 degrees.

This makes for a tranquil and cozy experience that doesn’t leave you sweating or shivering. Instead, you feel as if you’re wrapped in a warm embrace during float therapy.

And if you’re wondering why the float tanks are set up this way, it’s because it gently guides our bodies and minds into a calmer state of relaxation. By not noticing the ambient environment around you, it gives your brain less to process.

Right now, take notice of all the physical sensations around you. What do your clothes feel like? Are they comfortable or restrictive? Do you have a watch on that’s sending you notifications and tapping your wrist?

Is your phone putting pressure on your pocket and diverting your attention?

I particularly hate long socks and find it very uncomfortable when that pressure is on my calves and usually wear ankle socks.

Even the pressure of the chair you’re sitting on or what the ground feels like if you’re standing up.

All of these sensations are just physical. We haven’t even considered sights and sounds yet. And by having a float tank become a fortress of solitude from physical sensations, along with visual and auditory cues, our nervous system gets a chance to really turn down a take a break.

I think that the sensation of losing track of where your body ends and the float tank solution begins is one of the best parts. When you can’t tell if your feet are in or out of the water and where your body is in relation to the surroundings, it’s one of the most mentally liberating feelings we can have.

Now the other question that often comes up in relation to the temperature in the float tank is about making adjustments. If we are given enough notice in advance, we can make slight adjustments to the heaters to make the float experience more perfect for you. We have the sweet spot for pretty much everyone with our float tanks but some people do run hotter or colder and we’ll do our best to accommodate this when given enough time to prepare.